Corals record long-term Leeuwin current variability including Ningaloo Niño/Niña since 1795

J. Zinke (), A. Rountrey, M. Feng, S.-P. Xie, D. Dissard, K. Rankenburg, J.M. Lough and M.T. McCulloch
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J. Zinke: UWA Oceans Institute, 39 Fairway
A. Rountrey: UWA Oceans Institute, 39 Fairway
M. Feng: CSIRO Marine and Atmospheric Research
S.-P. Xie: Scripps Oceanography Institution, University of California at San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive 0206
D. Dissard: UWA School of Earth and Environment, 35 Stirling Highway
K. Rankenburg: UWA School of Earth and Environment, 35 Stirling Highway
J.M. Lough: Australian Institute of Marine Science, PMB 3
M.T. McCulloch: UWA Oceans Institute, 39 Fairway

Nature Communications, 2014, vol. 5, issue 1, 1-9

Abstract: Abstract Variability of the Leeuwin current (LC) off Western Australia is a footprint of interannual and decadal climate variations in the tropical Indo-Pacific. La Niña events often result in a strengthened LC, high coastal sea levels and unusually warm sea surface temperatures (SSTs), termed Ningaloo Niño. The rarity of such extreme events and the response of the southeastern Indian Ocean to regional and remote climate forcing are poorly understood owing to the lack of long-term records. Here we use well-replicated coral SST records from within the path of the LC, together with a reconstruction of the El Niño-Southern Oscillation to hindcast historical SST and LC strength from 1795 to 2010. We show that interannual and decadal variations in SST and LC strength characterized the past 215 years and that the most extreme sea level and SST anomalies occurred post 1980. These recent events were unprecedented in severity and are likely aided by accelerated global ocean warming and sea-level rise.

Date: 2014
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DOI: 10.1038/ncomms4607

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